Risk Factors

Smoking: Smoking is the most important risk factor for bladder cancer. Smokers are more than twice as likely to get bladder cancer as nonsmokers. About 50% of the deaths from bladder cancer are among male smokers, and 33% of deaths from bladder cancer are among female smokers.

Environmental Exposure: People who work in places that utilize certain dyes containing benzidine and naphtylamine are at a higher risk of developing bladder cancer. Such industries include makers of rubber, leather, textiles, and paint products as well as printing companies. Other workers with an increased risk of developing bladder cancer include painters, machinists, printers, hairdressers (likely because of heavy exposure to hair dyes), and truck drivers (likely because of heavy exposure to diesel fumes).

Chronic bladder irritation: Patients with chronic bladder irritation due to bladder stones, chronic catheters in the bladder, and chronic infections are higher risk of developing squamous carcinoma of the bladder.

Patent Urachus: In the developing fetus, there is a tubular opening between the belly button and the bladder, called the urachus. This opening normally disappears before birth. However, if a portion of this connection remains after birth, it can become cancerous. Cancers that start in the urachus are usually called
adenocarcinomas.

Chemotherapy: Exposure to the chemotherapy Cytoxan increases the risk of bladder cancer.

Family History: People who have family members with bladder cancer have an increased risk of getting it themselves. In some cases, these family members may all be exposed to the same cancer- causing chemical. They may also share changes in some genes (like GST and
NAT) that cause their bodies to be slower in breaking down certain toxins, which may make them more likely to develop bladder cancer. Only a small number of people with bladder cancer have inherited a gene that increases their risk. These genes are as follows:

Retinoblastoma (Rb1) mutation: A gene can that causes cancer of the eye in infants, and also increases the risk of bladder cancer.

PTEN gene mutation: Also Known as Cowden disease this gene is linked to breast, thyroid and bladder cancer.